Campus & Community

The topic of the 2014 Robert M. Walker Distinguished Lecture the evening of Oct. 23 will be black holes. The speaker is Ramesh Narayan, a Harvard astrophysicist who has studied the event horizon and the spin of these celestial enigmas. The talk, which starts at 7 p. m. in Whitaker Hall on the Danforth Campus, is free and open to the public.

More than 170 undergraduate students showcased their research projects through poster and oral presentations at the fall Undergraduate Research Symposium, held Oct. 11 in Olin Library. Arts & Sciences sophomore (far right) Jesse Kao explains his research to Ari Gao, a fellow sophomore and presenter, at the event designed to give students experience discussing their research projects with a wide audience while honing their presentation and communication skills. 

The Office of Sustainability and Dining Services presents Food Day, a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food. Events are being held through Friday, Oct. 24.

“For the Sake of All” is an interdisciplinary project funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health to improve the health and well-being of African-Americans in the St. Louis region. The project officially kicks off its community action series at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at St. Louis Public Radio’s Community Room with the first of six community forums.

Henry S. Webber, executive vice chancellor for administration, participated in an Oct. 8 news conference held at the Brown School expansion site to commemorate the Associated General Contractors annual Build St. Louis Week (Oct. 6-10). The week celebrates the construction industry and recognizes local construction’s accomplishments and impact on St. Louis’ economic well-being.

​Top national and local designers will showcase their work at runway shows and parties across the region. Fashion Week closes Oct. 18 with the 2014 Midwest Fashion Conference​ at Washington University.  

Stephen Prothero, PhD, professor of religion at Boston University and author of numerous books, will explore America’s cultural rifts from a historic perspective for the Assembly Series. The program, free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in Knight Hall’s Emerson Auditorium. His presentation, “Why Liberals Win: America’s Culture Wars from the Election of 1800 to Same-Sex Marriage,” is a Danforth Distinguished Lecture, sponsored by the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.

In an Oct. 8 ceremony, Ross C. Brownson, PhD, a leading expert in chronic disease prevention and applied epidemiology, was installed as the Bernard Becker Professor. Brownson holds joint appointments at the Brown School and at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.​

In an effort to extend opportunities to members of the medical school community who wish to share thoughts and viewpoints on becoming a more diverse and inclusive community, the School of Medicine is hosting a series of facilitated discussions.

The Peacock Loop Diner, part of the $80 million Lofts of Washington University, which also features apartments for some 400 undergraduates and grocery store United Provisions, is now open for business. The 24-hour diner is owned by Joe Edwards, who also operates Blueberry Hill, the Pageant and the Tivoli. “This really makes the Delmar Loop a 24-7 neighorhood,” Edwards said.